FORT STEWART, Ga. - Senior leaders of the 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, took a trip back in time to 1862 with a staff ride to the Fort Pulaski National Monument, Nov. 20.
More than just a history lesson of the Civil War era, Battle of Fort Pulaski, the staff ride provided a venue for the battalion's leader professional development program.
"We're here today to discuss the way military operations were conducted in the past and apply those lessons learned to today's battlefield," said 1/76 FA Commander, Lt. Col. Ryan LaPorte, adding that field artillerymen played an important role during the Battle of Fort Pulaski.
During the visit, the leaders discussed historical events involving the fort located between Savannah and Tybee Island, Ga., - everything from its construction to Soldiers' quality of life to the 30 hours of bombardment that began April 10, 1862.
They talked about the rifled cannon, which the Union army used to compel surrender of Confederates inside the brick fort, and they discussed the evolution of Army weaponry.
Lieutenant Colonel LaPorte said history is important so that Soldiers understand their lineage and prevent making the same mistakes of the past.
First Sergeant Jack Glasscock, acting command sergeant major for the Patriot Battalion, added that lessons learned from previous battles help today's leaders in their decision making process.
"We have to be flexible, adaptive leaders on today's ever-changing battlefield," he said.
The critical thinking exercise at Fort Pulaski was the battalion's second staff ride; the first was to Fort McAllister in July. The Patriot leaders plan to apply lessons learned from the Battle of Chickamauga to their training schedule with a visit to the Tennessee-based fort next year.
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